A former presidential aide was taken into custody Tuesday as the prosecution dug deeper into a corruption probe surrounding a major financial backer of former President Roh Moo-hyun, Yonhap News Agency reported Tuesday.

Officials at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said they were questioning Jung Sang-moon, Roh's former aide for administrative affairs at the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae, over allegations that he took hundreds of millions of won from Park Yeon-cha, chairman of shoemaker Taekwang Industry Co.

Park was arrested in December on tax evasion and bribery charges.

Jung was taken into custody by prosecutors from his house in southern Seoul. Investigators also searched through his home and his private office.

The Taekwang chairman has been at the center of the unfolding bribery scandal in which billions of won were reportedly given to political heavyweights, including Roh's confidants and former government officials, in exchange for various favors.

Roh's older brother, Roh Gun-pyeong, has been indicted on charges of colluding with Park to broker a buyout of an ailing securities firm from a state-run company in 2006.

Roh Gun-pyong's son-in-law is also under suspicion of taking illegal funds worth $5 million from the businessman, and investigators suspect the money was destined for the former president. Aides close to Roh have confirmed the transaction but said it was made as a legitimate investment.

Jung is suspected to have organized the transaction between Park and Gun-pyeong's son-in-law.